Tupac’s Tattoos

(1) “Makaveli” (wrote on his neck)
(2) Neferetiti with: “2 Die 4″ wrote underneath
(3) “2PAC”
(4) A Skull
(5) Skull And Crossbones with: “Heartless” written above
(6) “Notorious” on forearm
(7) The now famous “Thug Life” across his stomach, the “i” is replaced with a bullet
(8) AK-47 with: “50 Niggaz” (representing all niggaz in all 50 states)
(9) A Black Panther, to show respect to his families ties to the Black Panthers
(10) Jesus on burning cross in crown of thorns with: “Only God Can Judge Me”
(11) “Outlaw” representing his group

12) A Cross, with the bible verse “Exodus 18:11″, which reads: “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.”
(13) Face with “Smile Now” written below
(14) “Ballin”
(15) Crown with “Boss Playaz”
(16) “Fuck The World” across shoulders
(17) Face with “Cry Later” written below
(18) “MOB” on back of his right arm. Representing ‘Money Over Bitches’

Tattoos

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Tupac's Tattoo

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Tupac was 18 years old, he got his first tattoo, a simple “2Pac” inscription on his left chest.

This chest piece, Queen Nefertiti, symbolizes black grace and excellence and represents his love for his mother Afeni Shakur. The text comes from the lyric above in his song ‘Something 2 Die 4’ – “You know what my momma used to tell me. If ya can’t find something to live for…. then you BEST, find something ta die for” -2pac

50 Niggaz: 50 Niggaz stands for 1 black from every state of the USA, all them niggaz would be stronger than every weapon, if they would be united. This tattoo specifically symbolized black unity. Tupac believed that if one black person from every state joined together with him, they’d be stronger than an AK-47.

Tupac got his “Thug Life” tattoo in December, 1992 at Dago’s Tattoo in Houston. ‘THUG LIFE’ – an acronym for ‘The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody’ is the most recognizable tattoo in music. ‘”Inside my mind, couldn’t find a place to rest. Until I got that THUG LIFE tatted on my chest.” -2Pac

Tupac’s most famous tattoo, on his abs, reads “Thug Life.” Directly above it is another one, which reads “50 Niggaz.” Those are both social movements, and the latter inspired the former. “50 represented states,” Mopreme said. “If we had one good nigga in every state, we could accomplish anything.” 50 Niggaz developed and morphed into Thug Life, he went on, adding that when their friend Big Kato was murdered in 1993, it set Thug Life into overdrive. “It was really supposed to be about saving thugs’ lives,” Mopreme added. “A lot of people got the message, but a whole lot didn’t.”

Tupac got his “Cross” and Exodus 18:31 tattoo in December, 1992 at Dago’s Tattoo in Houston. ‘ Tupac was inspired by the heroic courage of Nat Turner and though there’s no agreed-upon meaning behind Pac’s Exodus 1831 tattoo, the strongest evidence points to it being a reference to the 1831 rebellion. 1831 was the year of Nat Turners slave revolt. The biggest slave uprising in U.S. history began on the night of August 23, 1831, when Turner and seven fellow slaves murdered their master and his family while they slept, and then set out on a campaign of brutal murder that terrorized the countryside and killed 55 white people. Nat Turner was later captured and hanged.